Geothermal New Zealand | Rotorua

3 minute read

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New Zealand’s South Island is characterised by its mountains, rivers and lakes whereas the North Island is a geothermal wonderland of volcanoes, caves and beaches. Rotorua is the heart of geothermal New Zealand; head to Rotorua Geothermal Park to see the New Zealand geysers. You’ll know you’ve arrived when the smell of the sulfur-rich air hits you. We take you to explore this otherworldly area on our Sweet North tour. This guide to geothermal New Zealand will tell you about all of the must-see sites of Rotorua.

Sunset at Te Puia in Rotorua Geothermal Park is always a special time.

Fun facts about geothermal New Zealand

Rotorua’s nickname is Sulfur City. You’ll soon see why when you enter this geothermal wonderland!
A third of Rotorua’s population is Māori. This is the highest proportion of any city in New Zealand. Te Arawa is the confederation of Māori iwi (tribes) of this area.
Te Puia is home to the most reliable geyser on earth, Pōhutu, which erupts about 20 times a day. It is the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere and can reach a height of 30 metres (100 feet).
Rotorua is part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Over two million years old and still highly active, the volcanic area takes in the area from the Bay of Plenty to Mt Ruapehu.

Te Puia is a geothermal wonderland.

Best hikes to do in Rotorua Geothermal Park

Wander amongst New Zealand geysers on one of these incredible walks.

Sulphur Point

Maximise your geothermal experience with a walk to Sulfur Point. Located on the outskirts of downtown Rotorua, you’ll be immersed in an otherworldly landscape. As you walk along the boardwalk, you’ll see steaming vents and mud pools. The walk will take up to 2 hours to reach Motutara Point (Sulphur Bay).

Redwood Memorial Grove Track

This 1-hour walk takes you through the magnificent giants of the Whakarewarewa Forest, the redwoods. The California native trees stand at 236m tall. Lose yourself gazing into the crystal clear water of the Dead Tree Swamp and gazing upwards at the towering trees. You’ll get to enjoy this walk on your Sweet North tour.

The Pōhutu geyser, one of the biggest New Zealand geysers, putting on a show.

Things to do in Rotorua

Visit Te Puia

A visit to Te Puia is a must if you are visiting Rotorua. There you’ll see Pōhutu, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere, Purapurawhetu mud pool and the geothermal hot pool Ngāraratuatara. You can also embrace Māori culture in Te Puia by enjoying a traditional hāngi feast, whereby the food is cooked in a large pit dug into the ground and heated by hot rocks. You can also see a cultural performance where stories of the past are beautifully told through song and dance.

Go on a jade discovery tour

In Rotorua, you can enjoy a free guided tour of one of the workshops which carves pounamu (jade) by hand. You’ll learn the rich history of the precious material and the influences behind the designs.

Enjoy endless activities

For those who love a thrill, Rotorua has many options to sate your appetite for adrenaline. There’s a wake park, mountain biking park and high ropes course. You can see the geothermal wonderland from the air on a scenic heli-flight or from the water on a jetboat. If you prefer to unwind, there’s the thermal spa.

Te Puia is our favourite place to see New Zealand geysers.

Best time to visit Rotorua

Rotorua enjoys a warm, temperate climate and is a spectacular spot to visit year-round. However, like all of New Zealand, the peak season runs from late spring until early autumn (October to April). In summer, temperatures range between 21°C – 29°C and in winter temperatures can drop to between 9°C – 16°C.

Visiting geothermal New Zealand with New Zealand Trails

On your Sweet North tour, you’ll spend some time soaking up the rich culture of Rotorua and its geothermal wonderland. You’ll spend an evening enjoying Māori culture and experiencing the Māori values of manaakitanga (hospitality) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) before being treated to a hāngi feast cooked in the traditional way. You’ll spend the night on the shore of Lake Rotorua before setting foot in the ‘land of lakes’ the following morning. You'll see the bubbling mud pools, spewing geysers and rising steam that gives Rotorua its otherworldly quality. Before heading off to our next destination, we’ll stop by the Whakarewarewa Forest to see the majestic redwoods.

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